Case Analysis
Expert Witness Discredited
An expert witness’ secret had a devastating effect on a case; the result – a discredited expert witness. Sally Signal was a retired head nurse of an operating room. She was used to being in charge and had a headstrong personality. She went into the hospital for signs of a possible stroke. She had a…
Read MoreEmergency Medical Services: Was There a Duty to a Person Not a Patient?
An attorney client asked me about the emergency medical services’ liability. The mobile intensive care unit staffed by an EMT and nurse was called to the home of Loretta and her daughter, Erin. The daughter had a seizure at home. The ambulance driver encouraged Loretta to come along in the ambulance to the hospital. Loretta…
Read MoreMedical Scribes
Recently I reviewed an emergency department record which included the name of the scribe. Then I read an article in the Dome, a publication of Johns Hopkins, about the benefits of using medical scribes in the Emergency Department. The medical record I reviewed was handwritten by a medical scribe. Johns Hopkins’ scribes enter data into…
Read MoreTraumatic brain injury: the impact of delays
An attorney asks you to review a case involving a 40-year-old man who fell on a sidewalk and sustained a traumatic brain injury. His CT Scan showed a small right-sided subdural hematoma. He was taken to the ICU and given supportive care including serial neurologic exams. You receive the records and note that the patient…
Read MoreDeath in Seclusion and Restraints
You may be asked to consult on a case involving a death in seclusion and restraints. The use of seclusion and restraints has fallen off in recent years, as healthcare practitioners have become aware of their dangers. Here is what can happen: Case of death in seclusion and restraints A forty-six year old man with…
Read MoreAir embolism
Air embolism is a never event. This video goes over some of the ways this event is caused and analyzed by legal nurse consultants. I have gotten lots of views on this video. Have you analyzed a case involving an air embolism? Was it difficult to prove causation? Share your thoughts.
Read MoreLegal Nurse Consultant’s Role in Preparing Demonstrative Evidence
Nurses think visually, a skill that helps legal nurse consultant working with attorneys in preparing demonstrative evidence. How do you use this skill with litigation? Although demonstrative evidence usually refers to exhibits created for use with mediations or trials, it can be used in reports or settlement brochures as well. Preparing Demonstrative Evidence: Begin with…
Read MoreScreening a fall case for merit
Falls are common in healthcare settings. You can perform an invaluable service by screening a fall case for merit. A fall that results in injury – a fracture, head injury, or paralysis may present an appealing case to a plaintiff attorney. But some attorneys stop and think, “Is this really a good case? Should I…
Read MoreMedical Malpractice Errors
Legal nurse consultants work within the high stakes arena of medical malpractice errors litigation. We are often asked to screen medical malpractice cases for merit – does the case meet the criteria for a winnable case – for the plaintiff or the defendant? Other industries, such as aviation, manufacturing, and energy developed safety interventions needed…
Read MoreScreening a Medication Error Case for Medical Malpractice
A legal nurse consultant may screen a medication error case for merit. The LNC recognizes that is often easiest to screen a case by starting with the damages. What happened as a result of the alleged medication error? Permanent, severe damages have the highest potential for providing compensation, assuming that liability and causation can be…
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